Pirates, Baby Shamu Steal The Show At Sea World

Along with the water-borne acrobatics -- including a 15-person pyramid and a seven-person ramp jump -- the show includes gymnastics, dance numbers and a search for treasure buried at the Atlantis Lagoon.

And the premier pirate, Cap'n Kid, might recruit a child or two from the audience to round out his crew.

Meanwhile, across the lagoon, another inhabitant of the sea stars in a show of her own -- well, almost. She gets a little help from mom.

The ''Baby Shamu Celebration'' -- which also stars Shamu and Kandu -- showcases what Sea World's animal behaviorists have learned about communication with killer whales since the birth of Baby Shamu. And, because Baby Shamu is growing so quickly, her new-found abilities have been incorporated into the show.

Sea World of Florida is open 8:30 a.m.-11 p.m. daily (gates close at 8 p.m.) and is at 7007 Sea World Drive, off Bee Line Expressway at Interstate 4 southwest of Orlando. One-day admission is $16.50 for adults, $13.50 for ages 3-11 and free for age 2 and under. For more information, contact the park at (305) 351-0021.

Sleight of fin. Whales and pirates aren't the sea's only legends. Mermaids -- which hereabouts inhabit the springs at Florida's Weeki Wachee -- are making a splash with an underwater magic show at the attraction.

''Mermaid Magic,'' the park's new show, features illusions performed by the park's mermaids along with underwater dancing and a deep dive.

Weeki Wachee has also added depth to its coverage of 117-foot deep dive: The divers now carry a video camera so the audience gets a mermaid's-eye-view of the spring.

Florida's Weeki Wachee is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily (gates close at 5 p.m.) and is on U.S. Highway 19 at State Road 50 in Weeki Wachee. Admission is $7.95 age 12 and older, $4.95 ages 3-11 and free for age 2 and under. For more information, call the attraction at (800) 342-0297.

A guided tour of the final frontier. Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry is sponsoring ''Space Summer Spectacular,'' an exhibit that explores the fascination humans have for the vast areas beyond Earth.

Summer Space Spectacular, which continues through Aug. 31, explores all facets of space exploration, from the formative projects of the late '50s through the future of space exploration. Current exhibits include: ''Technology Spinoffs,'' through Aug. 11; ''25 Years of Manned Space Flight,'' through Aug. 31; ''Space -- The Outer Limits,'' through Sept. 6 and ''Sightseeing: A Space Panorama,'' which continues through Sept. 7.

The museum will also host a competition for designing and building model rockets, with the fly-off set for Aug. 24. Call the museum at (813) 985-5531 for rules and an entry form.

The Museum of Science and Industry is at 4801 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa and open daily 10 a.m-4:30 p.m. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children.